Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense General (GEN) Wei Fenghe is conducting his official visit to Singapore and attending the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD). As part of his visit, GEN Wei co-chaired the Inaugural Singapore-China Defence Ministers' Dialogue with Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) this afternoon. The Ministerial Dialogue is an initiative under the 2019 enhanced Agreement on Defence Exchanges and Security Cooperation (ADESC) signed between Singapore and China, which reflects the progress made in the bilateral defence relationship since the ADESC was first signed in January 2008.

During the dialogue, both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation through the resumption and regular conduct of flagship bilateral exercises, which had been put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Ministers also discussed global security issues and practical ways to strengthen ASEAN-China defence exchanges and cooperation under the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus.

After the dialogue, Dr Ng and GEN Wei witnessed the signing of agreements which will further cooperation in military education and academic exchanges among military academies and think-tanks, as agreed upon under the enhanced ADESC. The Agreement on Five Year Professional Course Exchange between MINDEF and the China Ministry of National Defense is renewed every five years to facilitate the cross-attendance of courses by the Singapore Armed Forces and People's Liberation Army (PLA) officers, and was last signed in 2017. The Memorandum of Understanding on Academic Cooperation between SAFTI Military Institute (MI) and the PLA Academy of Military Sciences allows both institutions to enhance academic exchanges through study visits and Track 1.5 dialogues. SAFTI MI also has a similar Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of Academic Research and Cooperative Activities with the PLA National Defense University, which was first signed in 2016 and extended for five years in 2021.

GEN Wei's visit underscores the long-standing, warm and friendly bilateral defence relations between Singapore and China that has deepened and grown over the years. GEN Wei inspected the Guard of Honour at MINDEF this afternoon. GEN Wei will call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean during his visit to Singapore. GEN Wei will also speak at a plenary session titled "China's Vision for Regional Order" on 12 June 2022 during the 19th SLD.